K X P T. A N A 1' I O N OF P I^ A T K L X V 1 1 I . 



.Sinkvv-Hackk.i> Hows <>k Eskimo. 



Plate showing Murdoch's Arctic type of bow. The noteworthy features are — 

 First. These bows are much shorter than those of southern type and are said l>y 

 Murdoch to be of very graceful shape. In some examples the ends are bound up as 

 in some of the southern bows and the b;ick reenforced with a sliort rounded splint of 

 wood or antler in the bend. 



Second. The backing of these bows is always '' of a very comjilicated and perfect 

 jsattern, usually very thoroughly inoorjiorated with the bow by means of hitches and 

 a very complete seizing of many turns running nearly the whole length of the bow 

 and serving to equalize the distribution of the strain and thus prevent cracking." 



Third. Another notable feature is in some examples the division of the backing into 

 two cables in which the twist runs in opposite directions so that when the two cables 

 are sewed together neither one can untwist. The examples shown in the plate are 

 numbered as follows: 



Pirst. Cat. JSo. 1972, U. S. N. M. Arctic bow from the Ma<keiiziB region, back and 



side view. Collected by Koss. 

 Second. Cat. No. 89245, TJ. S. N. M., from Point Banow, collected by the IT. S. Inter- 

 national Polar Expedition. Tlie wood is in shajie of a Tatar bow. Mgures 12 

 and 13 show the left-handed and right-handed "soldier's hitch." 



